Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
47l2scAN6A 2~6~93~
Alkaline_Black-And-White DeveloPer for Silver Halide
_hotoqraphic Material
FIELD OF THE INVENTI~)N
The present invention relates to an alkaline black-
and-white de~eloper for processing a silver halide photo-
graphic material and, more particularly, to an alkaline
black-and-white developer for processing a silver halide
radiographic material in an automatic processor. The de-
veloper provides improved color ton~, stability to air
oxidation and excellent photographic properties.
BACKGRO~ND OF THE ART
The color tone of developed silver is a matter of
great concern for photographic film makers. The color tone
of blac~ a~d white developed images not only depends on
the photographic materials used but also on the grain
size, grain thickness, grain structure, grain surEace and
reflecting power of the developed silveI-.
It is well known that the warmest tones ~yellowi~h,
brownish) can give an unfavorable impression to the ob-
ser~er of the resulting picture image. For this reason a
trade requirement of photographic films, in particular for
medical ~-ray films, is a cold tone (blue-black) in order
to make diagnoses easier.
The idea of changing the color tone of a black-and-
white image is almost as old as the process of ma~ing a
black-and-white print itself.
It is known in the art that compounds called toners
may be added to emulsion preparations to produce a colder
or blacker image after development. References can be
found in US Patent Nos. 4,818,675, 4,201,582, 3,695,B80,
and 2,512,721, in ~P Appl. 271,309, in JP Patent Laid-Open
61/~7~,739.
It is also known that other chemical ingredients for
2~6~934
blue-~lack image forrnation can be us~-~d with a separate
toning bath and or activator bath. Reference can be found
in ~S Patent Nos. 4,201,582, 3,622,332, 2,192,891 and
2,156,626, Research Disclosure Item 29963, March 1989;
Photographic Science & Engineering, Vol 7, No. 2 "Observa-
tion on fine structur~ of developed silver in the presence
of added tone modifiers"; C.E.K. Mees, The TheorY of the
Photoqraphic Process, 1st Edition, p. 568, The Macmillan
Co.,New York; and A. Rott & E. Weide, Photographic silver
halide diffusion processes, pp 61-65, 1972.
The silver image commonly formed during normal devel-
opment is black, although some silver grains may appear to
have warm tone by reflected light. This difference is
principally due to a difference in size and in structure
of the developed metallic silver particles.
The two pathways to the reduction of silver ions are
physical and chemical development. In physical develop-
ment, which involves a homogeneous chemical reaction, the
developing agent reduces a soluble silver salt that is
added (or has been make soluble from the silver hali~le
emulsion layer) to the developer, and the formed metallic
silver is deposited on the latent image nuclei, resulting
in a developed image consisting of compact, rounded parti-
cles. In chemical or direct development, which invol~es a
heterogeneous chemical reaction, the silver halide of the
grain that has been image-wise exposed is reduced in situ,
resulting in a developed image consisting of particles of
filamentary structure.
The tight packing of chemically developed filamentary
silver ensures the spectral neutrality of this type of
silver image and the black color thus appears to be due to
multiple scattering and absorption of light. James and
Vanselow, in Photographic Science & Engineering, Vol.
No. 3, January 1958, "The Influence of the Development
Mechanism on the Color and Morpholog~ of Developed Silver"
showed that the greater the extent of physical develop-
ment, the less black was the silver image, the color
~0~93~
usually passing to a brownish hue.
The presence of silver halide solvents can dissolve
some of the silver halide of the emulsion with the result
that the image is formed par~ly by physical development
and is affected by warm ~ones. In order to reduce as low
as possible this physical development it is known to use
these compounds in the lowest quantities.
Now, we have surprisingly found that the use of sil-
ver halide solvents in combination with organic primary
amines dramatically improves the blue-black tone of devel-
oped silver and the speed of the black-and-whi.te photo-
graphic film.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an al~aline aqueous
black-and-white photographic developer comprising, (1) at
least one black-and-white developing agent, (2) at least
one black-and-white auxiliary developing agent, ~3) at
least one antifoggant, (4) at least one sequestering
agent, (5) a sulfite antioxidant, (6) at least one buffer-
ing agent, (7~ a tone agent, and (8) at least one tone
promoting agen$
wherein said tone agent is a primary organic amine
compound and said tone promo~ing agent is a silver halide
solvent.
This developer provides an improvement of both the
sensitometric characteristics and the silver blac~ness of
the photographic image obtained from a silver halide pho-
tographic material. Moreover, it provides a reduction of
dark sludge which often forms on the rollers of an auto-
matic developing processor.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a
developer composition comprising, (1) at least one black-
and-white developing agent, (2) at least one black-and-
white au~iliary developing agent, (3) at least one anti-
foggant, (4) at least one sequestering agent, (5) a
~06~3~
sulfite antioxidant, (6) at least one buffering agent, and
(7) a tone modifying agent, wherein said tone modifying
agent is an alkali metal or ammonium tetrathionate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE: INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention xelates to an al-
kaline agueous black and-white photographic developer com-
prising, (1) at least one black-and-whitP developing
agent, (2) at least one black-and-white auxiliary deYelop-
ing agent, (3) at least one antif~ggant, (4) at least one
sequestering agent, (5) a sulfite antioxidant, (6~ at
least one buffering agent, (7) a tone agent, and (8) at
least one tone promoting agent, wherein said tone agent is
a primary organic amine compound and said tone promoting
agent is a silver halide solvent.
The components of the alkaline aqueous black-and-
white photographic developer to be used in the present
invention will hereinafter be explained in detail.
Primary organic amines useful in the photographic
developer of the present invention are compounds well
known in the art. In a preferred embodiment said primary
amines correspond to the following formula:
R-NH2
wherein R can be a substituted or unsubstituted,
straight or branched or cyclic aliphatic chain of from
to 10 carbon atoms.
Straight aliphatic primary amines can be, for exam-
ple, methylamine, ethylamine, 1-propylamine, 2-propyl-
amine, l-butylamine, 1-pentylamine, 2-pentylamine, 3-
heptylamine, and the like.
Branched primary amines can be, for e~ample, 1-iso-
butylamine, 2-methyl-1-butylamine, 3-ethyl-1- pentylamine,
3-ethyl-2-hexylamine, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butylamine, and the
like.
'
20~93~
-- 5 --
Cyclic primary amines can be, for example, cyclo-
pentylamine, cyclohexylamine, cycloheptylamine, 2~methyl-
1-cyclopentylamine, and ~he like.
The aliphatic chain of said alipllatic primary amines
can be optionally modified with substituents well known in
the organic chemistry, such as, for example, halogen at-
oms, nitro group, carbo~y group, alkylogy group, aryloxr
group, aralkyloxy group, acyloxy group, carbamoyl group,
hydroxy group, thio group, alkylthio group, sulfo group,
and the like.
The amount of said primary orga~ic amine added in the
developex composition of the present invention is com-
prised in the range of from lxlO- 3 to Z Moles per liter,
more preferably oE from lxlO- 2 to 1 Moles per liter of
ready-to-use developer.
Silver halides solvents useful in the photographic
developer of the present invention are solutions or com-
pounds well known in the art. They comprise soluble halide
salts, (e.g., NaBr, KCl), thiosulfates (e.g. sodium thio-
sulfate, potassium thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate),
sulfites (e.g., sodium sulfite), ammonium salts (e.g. am-
monium chloride), thiocyanates (e.g., potassium thio-
cyanate, sodium thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate), thio-
urea, imidazole compounds (e.g., 2-methylimida~ole as de-
scribed in US Patent No. 3,708,299) and thioether com-
pounds.
In a preferred embodiment the pho~ographic developer
of the present invention comprises thiosulfates and thio-
cyanates, alone or in combination with each other. In a
more preferred embodiment the photographic developer o
the present invention comprises alkali metal or ammonium
thiosulfates or thiocyanates, alone or in combination with
each other. The amount of the silver halide solvent used
varies depending on the type of the silver halide solvent.
The total amount of the silver halide solvents is general-
ly comprised in the range of from 0.01 to 50 mMoles per
liter, more preferably in the range of from 0.1 to 30
2~93~
mMoles per liter of ready-to-use developer composition.
Althought these compounds were already known in -the
art, there is no known disclosure of the specific combina-
tion of silver halide solvents with primary organic amines
for improving both the black-blue tone of developed silver
and the speed of a silver halide photographic material.
According to a preferred embodiment, a tone modifying
agent may be added to the developer composition o the
present invention. The tone modifying agent can comprise
ammonium or alkali metal salts of poly~hionic acids (i.e.
trithionic acid H2S306, tetrathionic acid HzS406, penta-
thionic acid H2SsO6, hexathionic acid H2S606 and the
like). In a preferred embodiment, the tone modifying agent
of the present invention comprises tetrathionates of alka-
li metals or ammonium. The tone modifying agent may be
added in an amount in the range of from 0.01 to 0.4 grams
per liter, and more preferably from 0.05 to 0.3 grams per
liter of ready-to-use developer composition.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a
developer composition comprising, (1) at least one black
and-white developing agent, (2) at least one black-and-
white auxiliary developing agent, (3) at least one anti-
foggant, (4) at least one sequestering agent, (5) a sul-
fite antio~idant, (6) at least one buffering agent, and
(7) a tone modifying agent, wherein said tone modifying
agent is an alkali metals or ammonium tetrathionate.
Said tone modifying agent may be added to said devel-
oper composition in an amount in the range of from 0.4 to
5 grams per liter, and more preferably o~ from 0.5 to 2.5
grams per liter.
The developing agents for silver halide photographic
elements suitable for the purposes of the pres~nt inven-
tion include hydroquinone and substituted hydroquino~es
(e.g. t-butylhydroguinone, methylhydroquinone, dimethyl-
hydroquinone, chlorohydroquinone, dichlorohydroquinone,
bromohydro- quinone, 1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene, metho~y-
hydroquinone, etho2yhydroquinone~ etc.). Hydroquinone,
~ Q~ ~3~
-- 7
however, is preferred. Said silver halide developing
agents are generally used in an amoun~ from about 2 to 100
grams per liter, preferably 6 to 50 grams per liter of the
ready-to-use developer composition.
Such developing agents can be used alone or in combi-
nation with auxiliary developing agen$s which show a
superadditive affect, such as p-aminophenol and substitut-
ed p-aminophenol (e.g. N-methyl-p-aminophenol or metol and
Z,4-diaminophenol) and pyrazolidones (e.g. 1-phenyl-3-
pyrazolidone or phenidone) and substituted pyrazolidones
(e.g., 4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 4-hydroxymethyl-
4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pirazolidone, and 4,4' dimethyl-1-
phenyl-3-pyrazolidone or dimezone~. These au~iliary devel-
oping agents are generally used in an amount from about
0.1 to 20, preferably 0.5 to 5 grams per liter of ready-
to-use developer composition.
The antifogging agents, known in the art to eliminate
fog on the developed photographic silver halide filmst
useful in the developer composition of this invention in-
clude derivatives of benzimidazole/ benzotriazole,
~etrazole, indazole, thiaæole, etc. Preferably, according
to the present invention, the developer comprises a combi-
nation of benzotriazole-, indazole- and mercaptoazole-type
antifoggants, more preferably a combination of 5-methyl-
benzotriazole, 5-nitroindazole and 1-phenyl-5-mercapto-
tetrazole. Other e~amples of mercaptoazoles are described
in US Pat. No. 3,576,633, and other examples of indazole
type antifoggants are described in US Pat. No. 2,271,229.
More preferably, particular mi~tures of these antifoggin~
agents are useful to assure low fog levels; such pre-
ferred mixtures include mixtures of 5-nitroindazole and
benzimidazole nitrate, 5-nitrobenzotriazole and 1-phenyl-
1-H-tetrazole-5-thiol and 5-methylbenzotriazole and
1-phenyl-1-H-tetrazole-5-thiol. The most preferred combi-
nation is 5-methylbenzotriazole and 1-phenyl-1-H-tetra-
zole-5-thiol. These mi~tures are used in a total amount of
from about 0.01 to 5, preferably 0.02 to 3 grams per liter
2~4934
of the ready-to-use developer composition. Of course opti-
mum quantities of each compound and proportion can be
found by the skilled in the art -to respond to specific
technical needs. In particular, 5-methylbenzotriazoles
have been found to give the best results when used in mi~-
ture with l-phenyl-1-H-tetrazole-5-thiol, the latter being
presen~ in minor amount with respect to the weight of the
total mixture, in a percent of less than 20%, preferably
less than 10%.
The developer, comprising said antifoggant combina-
t.ion, is advantageously used in a continous txansport pro-
cessing machine at high temperature processing (higher
than 30~C) for processing of X- ray materials without
changes in the sensitometric properties of the material,
mainly without a substantial increase of the fog of the
developed material.
The sequestering agents used in the present invention
are sequestering agents known in the art such as, for e~-
ample, aminopolycarbo~ylic acids ~ethylenediaminotetra-
acetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, nitrilo-
triacetic acid, diaminopropanoltetraacetic acid, etc.),
aminopolyphosphonic acids (methylaminophosphonic acid,
phosphonic acids described in Research Disclosure 18837 of
December 1979, phosphonic acids described in US Pat. No.
4,596,764, etc.), cyclicaminomethane diphosphonic acids
(as described in EP Appl. No. 286,874), polyphosphate com-
pounds (sodium hexametaphosphate, etc.~, a-hydro~y-
carboxylic asid compounds (lactic acid, tartaric acid,
etc.), dicarboxylic acid compounds (malonic acid, etc.),
a-ketocarbo~ylic acid compounds (pyruvic acid, etc.),
alkanolamine compounds (diethanolamine, etc.), etc.
In a particular embodiment, said cyclicaminomethane
diphosphonic acid compounds correspond to the following
formula
~06493~
g -- .
,-CH2\ ~1
Q N-C-R2 (I)
` CH2 R3
wherein R1, R2 and R3, equal ~r different, each rep-
resents a hydrogen atom or a PO3M'M'' group, wherein M'
and M'' represent a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal such as
Li, Na or K or a quaternary a~monium group such as ammoni-
um, pyridinium, triethanolammonium or triethylammonium,
and Q represents the a~oms or chemical bonds necessary to
complete a 3- to 6-membered ring such as aziridino,
pyrrolidino, imidazolidino, piperidino, isoindolino or
morpholino, with the provisv that at least two o:E Rl, R2
and R3 substituents represent a PO3M'M'' group.
Typical examples of sequestering agents within the
general formula above are:
CH2-CH2 PO3H2 CH2-CH2 PO3H2
(1) 0N-C-H (2) HN N-C-H
CH2-CH2 PO3H2 CH2-CH2 PO3H2
~CH2-CH2 PO3H2 CH2-CH2 P03 H2
(3) S \N-C-H (4) H2C ~ N-C-H
CH2-CH2 PO3 H2 CH2-CH2 PO3 H2
~CH2-CH2 PO3H2 CH2-CH2 pO3H2
(S)H2C~ \ N-C-H ~6) ¦ N-C-H
O -CH2 PO3H2 CH2-CH2 P03 H2
CH2-CH2 PO3H2 CH - CH2 P03 H2
(7) ¦ N-C-H (8j ll N-C-H
NH - CH2/ PO3H2CH - CH2 PO3H2
,,~CH--CH2 PO3 H2~CH--CH2 ~03H2
(9) HC N-C-H (10) N N-C-H
CH2-CH2~ PO3H2 ~,H2-CH2~ PO3H~
.. . . .
2~93~
-- 10 --
CH2 PO3Hz
(11) ¦ \N-C-H
CH2~ P03H2
The above sequestering agents can be used alone or in
combination each other. More preferably, particular mi~-
tures of these sequestering agents are useful to assure
strong resistence to air o~idation; such preferred mi~-
tures include mixtures of aminopolycarboxylic acids and
cyclicaminomethane diphosphonic acids (according to formu-
la (I) above). Said sequestering agents can be advanta-
geously used in a total amounts of from about 1 to about
60 grams per liter, preferably of from about 2 to about 30
grams per liter of ready-to-use developer. Of course op-
timum quantities of each compound and proportion can be
found by the skilled in the art to respond to specific
technical needs. The sequestering agents incorporated into
the black-and-white developer of the present invention
have been found to increase the stability of the developer
over a long period of time.
The term "sulfite antioxidants", is meant those com-
pounds known in the art as capable of generating sulfite
ions ( S03-- in aqueous solutions and include sulfites,
bisulfites, metabisulfites (1 mole of metabisulfite form-
ing 2 moles of bisulfite in aqueous solution) and aldehyde
bisulfite adducts. E~amples of sulfites, bisulfites, and
metabisulfites include sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite,
sodium metabisulfite, potassium sulfite, potassium bisul-
fite, potassium metabisulfite and ammonium metabisulfite.
The amount of the total sulite ions is preferably not
less than 0.05 moles, more preferably 0.1 to 1.25 moles,
and most preferably 0.3 to 0.9 moles, per liter of devel-
oper. The amount of the sulfite ions with respect to the
h~droquinone preferably e2ceeds a molar ratio of 2.5:1
and, m*re preferably, is bstween 2.5:1 to 4:1.
The de~eloper in accordance with the present invPn-
tion further includes a buffer (e.g., carbonic acid salts,
:
0~93~
phosphoric acid salts, polyphosphates, metaborates, boric
acid and boric acid salts). The amount of the buffer with
respect to the sulfite preferably e~ceeds a molar ratio of
0.5:1 and, more preferably, is between 1:1 to 2:1.
In the developer composition there are used inorganic
alkaline agents to obtain the preferred pH which is usual-
ly higher than 10. Said inorganic alkaline agents include
KOH, NaOH, LiOH, sodium and potassium carbonate, etc.
Other adjuvants well known to the skilled in the art
of developer formulation may be added to the developer of
the present in~ention. These include restrainers, such as
the soluble halides ~e.g., KBr), so]vents (e.g., poly-
ethylene glycols and esters thereo~), development ac-
celerators (e.g., polyethylene glycols and pyrimidinium
compounds), preservatives, surface active agents, and the
like.
The developer of the invention is prepared by dis-
solving the ingredients in water and adjusting the pH to
the desired value. The pH value of the developer of the
present invention is comprised in the range of from 9 to
12, more preferably of from 10 to 11. The developer may
also be prepared in a concentrated form and then diluted
to a working strength just prior to use. The developer may
be prepared in two or more concentrated parts to be com-
bined and diluted with water to the desired strPngth and
placed in the developing tank of the automatic processing
machine.
The developer of the present invention is particular-
ly useful when processing is carried out in an automatic
processing machines. Automatic processing machines may be
of the type described in US Pat. No. 3,545,971, such as an
"~-OM~T Processor" made by Eastman Kodak Company, of the
series of '~TRIMATIC" Processors made by 3M Company and of
the type of "Model RK" made by Fuji Photo Film Company.
The developing temperature and the developing time are in
relation to each other and are dependant on the total
processing time. In general, they are about 20 C to 50~C,
- 12 ~ 9 3 ~
and 10 seconds to 120 seeonds, respectively.
After development in the developer of the present
invention, the silver halide material is fi~ed, preferably
in an acid fixer, and washed and dried in the usual man-
ner. In the automatic processing machine, these steps are
determined by the machine.
The silver halide photographic~materials which can be
used in the present invention comprise a support and at
least one silver halide emulsion layer coated on the sup-
port. The silver halide emulsion layer may be coated on
one side of the support or on both sides thereof. The sil-
ver halide photographic element can comprise other non
light-sensitive layers, such as backing layers, anti-
halation layers, interlayers, filter layers, protective
layers. The silver halide emulsion comprises silver halide
grains (such as silver chloride, silver bromide, silver
chlorobromide, silver bromoiodide, silver chlorobromo-
iodide) dispersed in an hydrophilic colloid (such as gela-
tin, modified gelatins, albumin, casein, sodium alginate,
carbo~ymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl
pyrrolidone and mi~tures thereof). The emulsion can con-
tain cubic, octahedral, spherical and/or tabular silver
halide grains. The emulsion can be chemical and optical
sensitized and added during its manufacture or before its
coating various additives, such as stabilizers, anti-
foggants, hardeners, coating aids, etc. The silver halide
emulsion is coated on a support such as a cellulose ace-
tate film, or a polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthal-
ate) film using coating, priming, and subbing methods
well kno~l in the art, and dried.
The following e~amples illustrate the aqueous alka-
line black-and-white developer of this invention more spe-
cifically, being understood, however, that the invention
is not limited to these examples.
.. . .
2~493~
E~AMPLE 1
Aqueous alkaline developers 1 to 7, having the compo-
sition shown in Table 1, for silver halide black-and-white
photographic materials were prepared.
Table 1
____~____ __________________________________________________________
Developer
_______________________________________________
2 3 ~ 5 6 7
____________________________________________________________________
Water g 700 700 700700 700 700 70D
NazS2Os g 30 30 30 30 30 30 3
KOH 35~ (~/w) g 54 64 71 43 43 35 48
K2CO3 g 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
Diethanolamine g 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Ethyleneglycol g 7.5 7.5 7.57.5 7.5 7.5 7.5
DTPA. 5Na 40% (w/W) g 12.512.512.5 12.5 12.512.5 12.5
Ethanolamine g - - - 10 10
Ethylamine g - - - - - 10.5
Ethylenediamineg - - - - - - 5 -
5-MethylbenzotriazDle Ing - - - - î25
1-Phenyl-1-H-
tetrazole-5-thiolmg - - - - 15
4-Hydro~ymethyl-
4-methyl-1-phenyl-
3-pyrazolidone g 1.3 1.3 1.31.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
Hydroquinone g 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
PotassiulD bromide g 1.5 1.51.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Water to make
pH at 20-C lû.5 11.011.5lû.7 10.7 10.710.7
__________
.
An in~rared sensitized photographic emulsion contain-
; ing silver bromide fine grains was coated un one side of
2~6~3~
- 14 -
two photographic supports to have two photographic films
at different Ag coverage:
A : 1.47 g/m2
B : 1.78 g/m2
exposed at 780 nm by a laser sensitometer, and then pro-
cessed u~ing developers 1 to 7, for 12 seconds at 35~C,
followed by acid stopping for 8 seconds at 35C, fixing in
3M ~AF/3 Fi~er (comprising essentially an acid water solu-
tion of ammonium tiosulfate and a harclener) for 8 seconds
at 35 C, washing in tap water for 20 seconds at 35~C and
drying for 22 seconds at 35~C. The results are summarized
in the following Table 2. The image tone of the developed
silver was determined on a trasmission densitometer at a
visual fil~ density of 1.20. The reported yellow densities
are the differences between the visual densities and the
color densities (determined through a blue filter) multi-
plied by 1000. Therefore a -110 yellow value would corre-
spond to a yellow density of 0.11 less than the 1.20 visu-
al density (because the density obtained by the blue fil-
ter is 1.09). The lower the yellow value, the better the
blue-black tone. Reference to this method of evaluation
can be Eound in US Patent No. 4,201,58~ and in "The Influ-
ence of ~evelopment Mechani~m on the Color and Horphology
of Developed Silver" by T.H.James and W.Vanselow (Phot.
Science & Eng. Vol.1, No. 3, page 107 Jan. 1958).
~ .
~ . .
2~934
- 15 -
Table 2
______________________________________________________.__
Developer Film D.min D.ma~ Speed Average Image
Contrast Tone
_________________________________________________________
1 ~ 0.18 3.62 1.. 71 3.40 ~50
2 A 0.18 3.54 1.69 3.40~40
3 A 0.18 3.54 1.72 3.38~50
4 A 0.2~ 3.77 1.99 3.14-120
~ 0.17 3.5~ 1.74 3.16 -40
6 A 0.19 3.71 1.93 3.10-120
7 A 0.30 3.82 2.12 3.55-180
1 B 0.18 3.96 1.81 3.16 -20
2 B 0.18 3.95 ~.82 3.06 -20
3 B 0.18 4.00 1~85 3.17 -40
4 B 0.19 4.17 1.94 3.36-130
B 0.17 4.01 1.85 2.99 -90
6 B 0.20 4.21 2.02 3.17-150
7 B 0.25 4.11 2.14 3.23-190
_________________________________________________________
These results clearly show as the presence of alkyl
amines increases the blue-black tone of developed silver
and the speed of photographic film. Alkylamines negatively
affect the D.min value. The presence of 5-methyl-benzo-
triazole antifogging agent dramatically increases the yel-
low tone.
EXAMPLE 2
Aqueous alkaline developers 8 to 14~ having the com-
position shown in Table 3, for silver halide black-and-
white photographic materials were prepared.
206~3~
- 16 -
~able 3
________.___________________________________________________________
Developer
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
_____________________________~______________________________________
~ate~ g700 700 700 700 700 700 700
Na2S20s g30 30 30 30 30 30 3
KOH 35~ (w/w) g35 45 56 56 57 45 58
R2CO3 g41 41 41 41 41 41 41
Diethanolamine g 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Ethyleneglycol g7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5
DTPA.5Na 40% (w¦W) g 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
3-Diethylamine-
1,2-propanediol g 25
Morpholine g - 15
2-Amino-Pyrimidine g - - 10
Pyridine g - - - 10
Benzoylhydrazine g
Piperazine g - - - - - 10
Salicylhydrazide g - - - - - - 1
4-Hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-
1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone g 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
Hydroquinone g 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
Potas~ium bro~ide g1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
~ater to make
pH at 20 C 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.7
____________________________________________________________________
.
The de~eloper compositions 8 to 14 ware tested ac-
: cording the same method of e~ample 1. The results are sum-
marized in Table 4.
;
-1/- 206~9~4
Table 4
__________________________________________________________
Developer Film D.min D.ma~ Speed A~erage Image
Contrast Tone
______________________________~___________________________
8 A 0.17 3.68 1.78 3.73 0
9 A 0.18 3.75 1.86 3.78 -60
A 0.18 3.71 1.83 3.67 -20
11 A 0,20 3.76 1.98 3.17 -20
12 A 0.18 3.67 1.74 3.55~70
13 A 0.18 3.76 1.87 3.55 0
14 A 0.18 3.69 1.75 3.53+60
8 B 0.18 4.05 1.88 3.40 -60
9 B 0.18 4.37 1.97 3.25-110
B 0.18 4.03 1.94 3.24 -40
11 B U.20 4.00 2.04 3.22 -60
12 B 0.18 4.13 1.86 3.30 -10
13 B 0.18 4.19 1.93 3.20 -40
14 B 0.18 3.96 1.80 3.31 -40
_________________________________________________________
;
As clearly shown from these e~amples, the presence
: of the -NH2 group in the tone agent is peculiar for the
effect on the yellow value. None of these compounds im-
parts a good image tone.
~; E~AMPLE 3
: Aqueous alkaline developers 15 to 21, having the
composition sh~wn in Table 5, for silver halide black-
and-white photographic materials were prepared.
~ '
20~3~
Table 5
___________ ____________________________________________~___________
Developer
16 17 i8 19 20 21
____________________________________________________________________
Water g 700 700700 700 700 700 700
Na2S2Os g 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
~OH 35% (w/~) g 55 38 38 38 43 43 43
R2C03 g 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
Diethanolamine g 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
~thyleneglycol g7.5 7.57.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5
DTPA.5Na 40% (w/~) g 12.512.512.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
Ethanolamine g - - - - 10 10 10
Ethylzmine g - 10.510.510.5
Ethylenediamine g
NaCNS mg - - 100 100 - 100 100
Na2SzO3 mg - 190 - 190 190 - 190
4-Nydroxymethyl-4-
methyl-1-phenyl-3-
pyra~olidone g1.3 1.31.3 1.3 1.3 1.31.3
Hydroquinone g 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
Potassium bromid~ g 1.51.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Water to make
pH at 20~C 10.7 10.710.710.7 10.7 10.7 10.7
_____ ____________________________________
,::
` ~: : The developer compositions 15 to 21 were tested ac-
cording the same method of example 1. The re~ults are sum-
:: marized in Table 6.
~:
.
. , ", ,. , . ~ " .
2~6~934
- 19 -
Table 6
__________________________________________________________
Developer Film D.min D.max Speed Average Image
Contrast Tone
__________________________________________________________
A 0.18 3.68 1.~77 3.46 +40
16 A 0.23 3.58 2.02 3.67 -180
17 A 0.20 3.66 1.94 3.11 -120
1~ A 0.23 3.60 2.00 3.38 -170
19 A 0.26 3.~3 Z.04 3.49 -190
A 0.21 3.84 1.97 3.29 -150
21 ~ 0.25 3.57 2.0~ 3.51 -180
B 0.18 3.99 1.82 3.14 -40
16 B 0.24 4.12 2.05 3.53 -190
17 B 0.20 4.04 2.00 3.13 -145
18 B 0.21 3.88 2.07 3.42 -190
19 B 0.27 3.94 2.07 3.67 -190
B 0.22 4.00 2.08 3.47 -170
21 B 0.24 3.91 2.05 3.52 -190
_________________________________________________________
These results clearly show that the presence of a
silver halide solvent such as sodium thiosulfate or sodium
thiocyanate in a developing solution which contains a pri-
mary organic amine greatly improves the blue-black tone of
developed silver.
~ EXAMPLE 4
':
Aqueous alkaline developers 2~ to 28, having the
composition shown in Table 7, for silver halide black-and-
white photographic materials were prepared.
,
2 ~ 3 ~
- 20 -
Table 7
________________________ __________________.________________________
Developer
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
____________________________________________________________________
Water g 700700 700 ~ 700700 700 700
Na2S2Os g30 30 30 30 30 30 30
KOH 35~ (w/w) g43 38 38 38 43 43 43
K2CO3 g41 41 41 41 41 41 41
Diethanolamine g 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Ethyleneglycol g7.57.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5
DTPA. 5Na 40% (w/W) g12.5 12.5 12.512.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
Ethanolamine g 1010 10
Ethylamine g - - - 10.510.5 10.5
Ethylenediamine g
K2S~06 mg 150 - 150 150 - 150
Na2S203 mg - 190 190 - 190 190
5-Methylbenzotriazolemg 125 125 125 125 125 125 125
1-Phe~yl-1-H-tetrazole-
5-thiol mg 15 15 15 15 15 15 15
4-H~droxy~ethyl-4-methyl-
1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone g 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
Hydroquinone g 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
Potassium ~romide g 1.51.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Hater to make
pH at 20'C 10.710.710.7 10.710.7 10.7 10.7
--________
The developer compositions 22 to 28 were tested ac-
cording the same method of e~ample 1. The results are sum-
marized in Table 8.
: :
:
- 21 - 2~ 3~
~able 8
________________________________ ________________________ ,
Developer Film D.min D.max Speed Average Image
Contrast Tone
____________________
ZZ A 0.1~ 3.42 1.7B 3.06 0
23 A 0.19 3.33 1.86 3.07 -100
~4 A 0.20 3.22 1.85 3.26 -160
A 0.20 3.46 1.73 2.89 -10
26 A 0.21 3.25 1.77 2.74 -40
27 A 0.18 3.20 1.87 3.OB -100
28 A 0.18 3~65 1.65 3.51 +10
22 B 0.18 3.8Z 1.85 2.85 -70
23 B 0.18 3.63 1.94 2.89 -145
2~ B 0.18 3.64 1.95 3.12 -180
B 0.17 3.83 1.85 2.80 -50
26 B 0.18 3.57 1.89 2.70 -20
27 B 0.18 3.73 1.95 2.87 -130
28 B 0.18 3.81 1.77 3.25 -40
________________________________________________________
These results clearly show that the combination of
the tone agent and the tone promoting agent of the present
invention improves both image tone and speed of a photo-
graphic film, without affecting other photographic re-
quixements. The best result is obtained by composition 24
which clearly shows (in comparison to compositions 22 and
23) the effect of the potassium tetrathionate (tone modi-
fying agent) in combination with sodium thiosulfate ttone
promoting agent~.
E~AMP~E 5
Aqueous alkaline developers 29 to 35, having the
composition shown in Table 9, for silver halide black-and-
white photographic materials were prepared.
- 22 - 2~93~
Table 9
_____________________________________________________________________
Developer
_________________________________ __________ ___
29 30 31 32 33 34 35
_____________________________________________________________________
Water g 700700 700 ~ 700700700 7U0
Na2S2Os g 30 30 30 30 30 30
KOH 35~ ~w/w3 g 50 50 50 50 50 50 80
K2CO3 g 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
Diethanolamine g 6 6 6 6 6 6 12
Ethyleneglycol g 7.5 7.57~5 7.5 7.57.5 7.5
DTPA.5Na 40% (w/~) g12.5 12.5 12.512.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
RzS4O6 mg 150 - - 150 150 - 500
Na2S2O3 mg - 190 - 190 - 190
NaCNS mg - - 100 - 100 100
5-Methylbenzotriazole mg - 125125 125 125 125 80
1-Phenyl-1-H-
tetrazols-5-thiQl mg 15 15 15 15 15 15
4-Hydroxymethyl-4-
methyl-1-phenyl-3-
pyrazolidone g 1.3 1.31.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
Hydroquinone g 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
Potassium bromide g 1.5 1.5 1.5 ` 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Water to make
pH at 204C 10.710.710.7 10.7 10.710.7 10.7
________________________ ___ __
The de~eloper compositions 29 to 35 were tested ac-
cording the same method of e~ample ~. The results are sum-
marized in Table 1~.
.
.
.. . . . . . , ~
2~6~934
Table 10
_________________________________________________________
Developer Film D.min D.ma~ Speed ~verage Image
Contrast Tone
__________________________________________________________
29 A 0.17 3.34 1.69 3.28 +20
A 0.17 3.34 1.73 3.31 ~40
31 A 0.17 3.40 1.70 3.33 ~40
32 A 0.18 3.29 1.70 3.48 ~10
33 A 0O17 3.38 1.66 3.31 +50
34 A 0.18 3.30 1.70 3.20 +30
A 0.20 2.98 1.99 3.67 -150
29 B 0.17 3.78 1.78 3.04 -20
B 0.17 3.61 1.79 3.16 -30
31 B 0.18 3.93 1.78 3.21 -30
32 B 0.17 3.64 1.82 3.06 -50
33 B 0.17 3.84 1.77 3.04 -20
34 B 0.18 3.60 1.83 3.00 -20
B 0.20 3.24 2.05 3.45 -190
_________________________________________________________
These results clearly show that the tone promoting
agent alone does not impro~e the blue-black tone of the
developed silver. Sodium tetrathionate has this kind of
effect, but at higher concentration only.
EXAMPLE 6
.
Developers 36 and 37 ha~ing the composition shown in
Table 11 for silver halide photographic materials were
prepared.
~: ,
2~934
- 24 -
Table 11
__________________________________________________.______
Developer
36 37
_________________________________________________________
Water g 700 780
Na2 S2 05 g 30 30
KOH 35% (w/w) g 43 35
K2CO3 g 41 41
Diethanolamine g 6 6
Ethyleneglycol g 7.5 7.5
DTPA.5Na 40% (w/~) g12.5 12.5
Bude~TH5103 40% sol g
Ethanolamine g 10 10
Ethylenediamine g
K25~06 mg 150 150
Na2S203 mg 190 190
5-Methylbenzotriazole mg 125 125
1-Phenyl-1-H-tetrazole-5-thiolmg 15 15
4-Hydroxymethyl-4-methyl- 1-
phenyl-3-pyrazolidone g 1.3 1.3
Hydroquinone g 12 12
Potassium bromide g 1.5 1.5
Water to make
pH a$ 20C 10.7 lD.7
__ ___________ _________________________________________ .
BudexS85103 is the trade name of a cyclicamino-
:~ methane diphosphonic acid sold by Budenheim AG, having the
following formula:
,CH2-CH2 PO3H
: O \ N-CH
CH2-CH2 PO3H
.
' .
,
~ .
2~64934
- 25 -
Two liters of each of the developers 36 and 37 were
placed in an open eYaporating dish and left to stand at
room temperature for ten days (o~idized developer~. The
developer compositions 34 and 35 (fresh and oxidized~ were
tested according the same m~thod of example 1. The results
are summarized in Table 12.
Table 12
______________ ___________________________________________
Developer Film D.min D.max Speed Average Image
Contrast Tone
__________________________________________________________
36 Fresh A 0.18 3.13 1.91 3.43 -170
36 O~id. A 0.19 2.80 1.86 2.B6 -160
37 Fresh A 0.18 3.15 1.89 3.39 -150
37 Oxid. A 0.18 2.95 1.89 3.15 -180
36 Fresh B 0.19 3.39 1.93 3.25 -170
36 O~id. B 0.19 3.03 1.88 2.75 -180
37 Fresh B 0.18 3.31 1.95 3.16 -170
37 Oxid. B 0.19 3.20 1.92 3.10 -180
________________________________________________._________
These results show that the presence of Bude~T~ 5103
improves the resistance to air o~ida~ion of the developer
composition of the present invention.
